Shotgun shell having a divided charge adapted to explode in bursts



Jan. 22, 1963 R H. P. DEVAUX 3,074,344

SHOTGUN SHELL HAVING A DIVIDED CHARGE ADAPTED TO EXPLODE IN BURSTS FiledFeb. 18, 1960 3 SheetsSheet 1 IN VE NTOR R. If. I? fiemu X a BYATTORNEYS P. DEVAUX 3,074,344

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. H. SHOTGUN SHELL HAVING A DIVIDED CHARGE III:

ADAPTED TO EXPLODE IN BURSTS Jan. 22, 1963 Filed Feb. 18

INVENTOR H. E Dew/aux ATTORNEY WWW; I

1953 R. H. P. DEVAUX 3,074,344

SHOTGUN SHELL HAVING A DIVIDED CHARGE ADAPTED TO EXPLODE IN BURSTS FiledFeb. 18, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet :5

I k v "in-nun Illa/1110111 INVENTOR R H F. Devaux WWW ATTORNEYS PatentedJan. 22, 1963 3,074,344 HGTGUN SHELL HAVING A DlVlDEl) CHARGE ADAPEED TEXPLODE IN EURSTS Raymond Henri Pierre Devaux, 46 rue tie l iennes,Paris, France Filed Feb. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 2580 Qlaims priority,application France Feb. 24, 1959 16 Claims. (Cl. 1024Z) It is known thatwhen a shotgun shell is fired the charge of shot diverges, at a range of35 meters, for example, in a cone of dispersion which leaves its markson a fixed target in a circle from 6G-75 centimeters in diameterdepending upon the physical characterl tics of the weapon, with acispersion of shot over this surface such that five or six of them arepositioned within a circle having an area of about 0.5 dm. whichsubstantially corresponds to the vital area or" the silhousette of asmall game animal.

It is also recognized that at this distance the charge approaches thetarget in an approximately vertical plane and that in a 12 gauge shellthis charge of 34 grams cornprises about 380 No. 7 shot or 500 No. 8shot, so that only or 6 of these shot usefully reach the target. Th'diameter of the circle of the cone of dispersion being at most 75 car,this distance corresponds to that of the maximum transverse distanceWithin which a moving game animal may be hit.

it is also known that the most mediocre aiming at a fixed tar et, easilyplaces all his shot a circle 20 cm. in diameter at 35 meters, so that inhunting it the game animal were still a spread of pellets slightlygreater than this diameter, close to the target, would be quitesufficient. "L is would permit a reduction in the caliber of the weaponand consequently the cost of the ammunition.

But the difficulty with such a weapon resides in the fact that it mustbe fired not at the place where the moving game is at the moment theshot is fired, at the point where the game will be when the shotarrives. The hunter can easily see the general direction 0 ing followedby the target, but he must estimate very rapidly the distance which thegame will travel d ing the time it will take the shot to reach it, andthis estimate must take into account the speed of the game, the lengthof time the shot will be in the air, the speed and direction of thewind, and the speed of action of the hunter, not to mention thecomposition and humidity of the cartridges, so that such an estimate istoo risky, even for the best hunters. For this reason, large caliberWeapons are used so as to increase the chances of hitting the target.This simple solution necessarily results in a substantial increase inthe cost of the ammunition and makes it necessary for the hunter tocarry a heavy weapon.

It is also known that in order to modify the grouping of the shot ofthese weapons one may employ grills, cylinders called concentrators, andcastings of various materials to limit their dispersion, and crossbar ora mixture of shot to increase their dispersion. These known artificesgive only uncertain and irregular re sults. They produce either toogreat a concentration of shot, which ball up, or an irregular dispersionthere of which multiplies the number of shots yielding large hollowzones void of shot.

There are cartridges having casings provided with helical in rior ribswhich impart a rotary movement to the charge in order to improve thegrouping of the pellets and thus avoid hollow spots, but these cartridgecases stick to the walls of the firing chamber so well that after firingthey can be extracted only with difiiculty, thus practically prohibitingtheir use.

The purpose of the present invention is to remedy all theseinconveniences, While materially increasing the cha ces of hitting thetarget by means of a better utilization and distribution of the charge,which automatically approaches the target in several successive planesinstead of in a single plane, by utilizing successive bursts dividingthe total projectile charge. The pellets of the charge which has beendivided in this manner are to tated to insure the pro er dispersion andthe entire divided charge is proiected during a time which correspondsto the travel of the game animal, over a transverse distance three orfour times larger than the distance corresponding to the spread of aconventional cartridge of the types heretofore known. in other words,the same charge, other conditions being equal, becomes three or fourtimes more deadly.

The invention thus permits the use of Weapons of a smaller caliber,which are consequently relatively light, while improving the chancesthat an average hunter will sin home game.

The object of the present invention is to provide a shotgun cartridge orthe like characterized by the fact that it comprises a charge of shotdivided into a succession of individual charges which are separate orautomatically separable under the influence of inertia after firing, theheaviest individual charge being closest to the open end of thecartridge and the weight of the other individual charges progressivelydecreasing toward its head.

The cartridge constituting the invention may moreover otter thefollowing features, singly or in combination:

Each individual charge of shot is enclosed in an individual container,the containers of the var ous individual charges being superposed in thecartridge above the wadding.

The container for the individual charge of shot comprises exteriorhelical ribs and interior radial ribs, the first serving to rotate thecontainer before the departure of the shot and the second impartingrotation to the pellets or shot composing the charge.

The individual charges are made of shot of the same size but thediameter of shot in successive individual charges decreases from chargeto charge as the wadding is approached.

'lhe containers for each individual charge are scored to facilitateliberation of that individual charge by rupturing the container after ithas travelled a certain distanee from the muzzle of the weapon utilizingthe cartridge.

The projectile charge consists of a ball provided with a plurality ofweakened transverse sections which serve as cleavage planes and withexternal helical ribs which are formed to exert different torques ondiiterent sections which facilitate the division of the charge alongthose planes as it leaves the muzzle.

The projectile charge is enclosed in a single accordion pleatedcontainer, the pleats being circular and transverse, and provided withscorings which delimit the individual projectile charges, this singlecontainer being also provided with exterior helical ribs and in somecases with interior radial vanes as well as weakening scorings about itscylindrical periphery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a charged cartridge readyfor use and characterized by the fact that its casing consists of asubstantially cylindrical plastic container of the type hereinbeforedescribed, provided with circular inwardly projecting folds which limitthe individual charges of shot to weights successively increasing fromthe wadding to the end of the cartridge, this container being assembledto the head so as to be expelled at the same time as the wadding in thebarrel of the weapon firing the cartridge.

In an advantageous embodiment of the charged cartridge aovgaaa accordingto the invention,.the.body of the cartridge head is also made of aplastic material reinforced at its butt end by a metallic jacket whichholds the detonator, and the casing containing theprojectile charge isclosed at its free end by a thin Wall attached thereto in any suitableway, for example by crimping, adhesive connection, or high frequencywelding,.the casing being attached in a like manner to the cartridgehead containing the detonator.

The charged cartridge according to the invention has theadvantage ofbeing usable in a weapon of corresponding caliber, regardless of thelength of the chamber provided for the cartridge in that weapon.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container whichconstitutes the casing is impervious but is thinner along lines designedto facilitate its rupture for the production of bursts.

Other characteristics of the invention and other advantages resultingtherefrom will be apparent from a reading of the following descriptionof several embodiments of the invention, the possible applications ofwhich are not, of course, limited to the specific examples described.

Thedescription should be read in conjunction with the accompanyingschematic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 2showing a single individual charge in position in its container andadapted for incorporation into a cartridge according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1 of the sameindividual projectile charge;

FIG. 3 is an axial cross-section of a cartridge according to theinvention comprising individual projectile charges of the type shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the containers holding a singleindividual charge of the type used in the cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an axial cross-section of a cartridge according to theinvention but slightly different from that shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an axial cross-section of a cartridge containing segmentalballs according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is an axial cross-section taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 8,.showing a single cylindrical container for holding the partialprojectile charges of a cartridge according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is an exterior view of the cylindrical container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an axial cross-section of a cartridge comprisprising a singlecylindrical casing of the type shown on FIGS. 7 and 8 for the partialprojectile charges;

FIG. 10 is an axial cross-section through the cartridge ofFIG. 9, in thebarrel of a shotgun, just after percussion;

FIG. 11 is an axial cross-section through the cartridge of FIG. 10 justafter it has left .the muzzle of the shotgun; and

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal view, partly in cross-section, of'a chargedcartridge embodying the invention.

The container 1 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4), which holds an individualcharge ofshot 2, all of the same size, has the general shape of a cylindrical boxwith a rounder (or alternatively flat)'bottorn, open at the end oppositethis bottom to permit the introduction of shot 2'. The latter areretainedby a disk 3 held in by the bent-over edges of theropen end ofthe container 1. This container may be made of any suitable material,preferably one which is flexible and elastic, and especiallyof asuitable plastic material. The container 1 carries internally projectingradial vanes'4 which are integral therewith, and exterior helicalribs '5which are also integral to its cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall ofthe container 1 is provided with orifices 6 which defineweakened linesfacilitating rupture or tearing as a consequence of the centrifugalforce to which the charge of shot 2 may be subjected, as willbe'hereinafter explained.

FIG. 3 shows acartridgeiaccording to the invention which comprises 4containers 1 for individual projectile charges formed from small shot.These charges 8, 9, 10 and 11 are each made up of the same number ofshot, but the size of the shot increases; from charge 8 to charge 11.The cartridge 7 is'clo'sed' by a crimped-in disk '13. The containers 1are each provided with a small axial orifice 28 in their bottoms.

When the cartridge 7 is utilized in a weapon of corre-- spondingcaliber, the containers 1 holding their respective projectile chargesare .forced out by the gases generated by explosion of the explosivecharge of the cartridge. These containers 1 are also subjected to atorque which results from the friction between their ribs 5 and theinternal walls of the barrel so that these containers develop a gyratorymovement. At a certain distance from the muzzle of the weapon thisgyratory movement causes the successive detachment of the containers 1as a come quence of the centrifugal force acting on the charge of shotin each container. It is this successive liberation of the individualcharges of shot which results in the firing in bursts which it is theobject of the invention to attain.

The cartridge 12 shown on FIG. 5 is analogous to that of FIG. 3, but theindividual charges of shot are contained in three superposed unsealedcups 13, which contain charges of shot 14, 15 and 16 of successivelyincreasing size and weight. The end of the cartridge 12 is closed bymeans of a crimped-in disk 17. The cups 13 each carry a winged axial bar19 which is integral with the cups and helical ribs 20 on theircylindrical peripheries. The bottoms of the cups 13 are provided withsmall orifices 39 which constitute weak spots facilitating rupture. Thecartridge 12 works in essentially the same way as the cartridge 7.

The cartridge 21 shown on FIG. 6 is a cartridge containing a three-partball, comprising an end part 22 which is the heaviest, a middle part 23which is lighter, and an inner part 24 which is the lightest. Thesethree parts are separated by necks 25 and 26 which are scored tofacilitate cleavage. Each of parts 22 and 23 is provided with helicalribs 41 and 27 respectively, the function of which is also to impart agyratory motion to the ball in order to cause two successive breakingsof the ball into sections at a certain distance from the muzzle of afirearm firing the cartridge 21.

The container 29 shown on FIGS. 7 and 8 has a gen= erally cylindricalform and is made in one piece. The body of the container 29 is providedwith circular folds or necks 39 with cleavage lines 31. This body isprovided with external helical ribs 32 and internal radial vanes 33. AWadding plug 34 is fixed in any suitable manner to the container 29, bysimple adhesion, for example.

The circular folds are spaced by distances which define sections havingthe heights a, b, c and d which decrease from the open end of thiscontainer 29 toward the wadding plug 34.

FIG. 9 shows the container 29 in place in a cartridge 35 with its chargeof shot 36, the powder charge being designated by reference numeral 37.Before it is inserted and sealed into the cartridge 35 with its chargeof shot, the necks 30 are coated with a special grease having, forexample, a silicone base. Reference numeral 42 indicates a closure diskfor the end of the cartridge.

It should be noted that the successive sections of heights a, b, c and din the container 29 have helical ribs inclined in opposite directions.

FIG. 10 shows the state of the cartridge 35 immediately after firing.The force exerted against the container 29 by the explosive gases hasaxially compressed it, so as to close the folds 31 The grease containedin these folds is then forced out to the periphery, thus facilitatingthe sliding of the container 29 and its charge out of the cartridge caseand through the barrel C of the weapon.

The friction to which the helicalribs 32. is subjected drives thesections a, b, c and d of the container 29 in.

opposite directions and thus brings about the separation of thesesections, each of which is scored along lines 38 to facilitate openingof these sections, as shown in FIG. 11, and the release of their chargeof shot at a certain distance from the muzzle of the weapon. The shotare consequently projected in bursts, the individual charges containedin each section of the container being nevertheless connected (as shownin FIG. 11) by reason of the presence of an axial orifice 44 in thebottom of each section. The arrows on PEG. 11 show the oppositedirections of rotation followed by successive sections of the container29 with their charges of shot.

it should be noted that the container 29 has the advantage ofautomatically permitting the use of conventional charging machines andshot of the same size, which is not so in the case of the cartridges 7and 12 hereinbefore described (FIGS. 3 and The charged cartridge 43shown on FIG. 12 comprises a breech closure 44 made of a plasticmaterial, reinforced by means of an annular metallic jacket 45, crimpedat its outer periphery over an external circular rib on the breechclosure 4d, and around its inner edge over a washer 46, which may bemade of cardboard for example, and rests on the bottom of the breechclosure 44. The jacket 45' provides a seal for the percussion cap 59.

Reference numeral 47 designates the charge of powder and 48 the waddingwhich rests on an inner shoulder 49 of the cartridge head.

The casing used in conventional cartridges is in this instance replacedby a plastic container 50, similar to the container 2? described inconnection with FIGS. 7-9. However, the container 50, which is generallycylindrical in shape, comprises only three sections 51, 52 and 53,defined by necks 54, 55 and 56, the height of which increases with theirdistance from the wadding 48.

The container 50 comprises a thin curved bottom 57 which may be integralwith it or attached to it in any conventional manner. This container isprovided with a charge of shot 58 before being crimped onto the head 4-4by the rim 6d encircling the orifice in the head, and sealed in anysuitable known manner. The container 50 is ikewise moisture-proof andimperforate, which eliminates any possibility that moisture will reachthe interior of the charged cartridge 43. The sections 51, 52, 53 havehelical ribs 61, 6?. and 63, alternately inclined in oppositedirections. Sections 51, 52 and 53 also have lines of reduced thickness64, 65 and 66 inclined in the same direction as the ribs and positionedtherebetween. The bottoms of the necks 54, 55 and 56 are likewiseprovided with circu lar lines of reduced thickness which facilitate theseparation of sections 51, 52 and 53 when the cartridge is fired, justas the lines 64, 65 and 66 facilitate opening of the sections after theyhave left the barrel of the weapon and at a certain distance from itsmouth.

Before firing the cartridge 43 it is helpful to provide its necks 54, 55and 56 with a special grease. This is desirable not only in order tokeep the barrel of the gun in good shape but, as has already beenmentioned, it also results in an increase in the initial speed of theprojectile charge at the mouth of the barrel of the weapon fired.

The invention may also take the form of a charged cartridge of the typeshown in FiG. 12, in which the sections have no external helical ribs,for the special case in which this cartridge is designed to be firedfrom a weapon provided with a rifled barrel.

it will of course be understood that a man skilled in the art may modifythe cartridges described as to details without thereby departing fromthe substance of the invention.

it is evident, for example, that if the present invention is applied toa weapon having a rifled barrel, it is pos sible to use containers (forthe individual projectile charges) which have no external helical ribs.It is sufficient for such containers to be provided with one or 6 moresuitably thickened parts serving as rifiing hands to cooperate with theriding of the barrel.

What I claim is:

1. A cartridge comprising an outer casing having a breech closure, asole explosive charge located within the breech end of said casing, aprojectile charge divided into a plurality of distinct individualcharges positioned end to end in axial alignment with said breechclosure and explosive charge, container means in said casing withinwhich said projectile charge is enclosed, said container being separableas a unit from said casing so as to be projected whole therefrom uponexplosion of said explosive charge, and means for imparting a differentrotational force to each individual projectile charge while saidcontainer means is in flight so as to cause a separation of saidindividual projectile charges from each other at a suitable distancefrom the mouth of the weapon from which said cartridge is fired.

2.. A cartridge comprising an outer casing having a breech closure, anexplosive charge within the breech end of said casing, and a pluralityof individual cylindrical projectile charges in alignment with its head,each of s id projectile charges consisting of shot of the same sizeenclosed in an individual container separable as a unit from said casingso as to be projected whole therefrom upon explosion of said explosivecharge provided with weakened areas to facilitate its rupture after thecontainer has left said casing, said containers being provided withexternal helical ribs, the size of the shot in each individualprojectile charge, and the weight of said projectile charges decreasingsuccessively from one projectile charge to the next as they approach thebreech closure of the cartridge.

3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 2 in which the container for eachindividual projectile charge is provided With inner radial vanes.

4. A cartridge comprising an outer casing having a breech closure, anexplosive charge, wadding, and a charge of shot divided into a pluralityof individual projectile charges enclosed in a single substantiallycylindrical container superimposed on the wadding and separable as aunit from said casing so as to be projected whole therefrom uponexplosion of said explosive charge, said container being divided intosections encircling said individual projectile charges by means ofinwardly projecting circular pleats which separate said individualcharges, said container sections being provided with external helicalribs, those of said ribs on adjacent sections sloping in oppositedirections, and the weight of said individual grojectile chargesdecreasing as they approach the wad- 5. A cartridge as claimed in claim4 in which the said container is provided with weakened areas whichfacilitate the separation of said individual section from each other andadditional weakened areas which facilitate the release of the shotwithin each section after the cartridge has been fired, said containerbeing likewise provided with radial vanes within each section.

6. A cartridge as claimed in claim 4 in which the said circular pleatsembrace a supply of a silicone base grease.

7. A thin, generally cylindrical container for the shot in a cartridgecasing, said container being provided with inwardly projecting circularpleats which divide the container transversely into sections whichdecrease in length toward the head of the cartridge, each section beingprovided with an external helical rib which slants in a directionopposite to that of the ribs on the adjacent sections, said ribs havinguniform radial dimensions, and the walls of said container beingprovided with weakened areas which facilitate tearing of the container.

8. A cartridge of the type comprising an elongated outer casing having abreech closure, an explosive charge within the breech end of said outercasing, and a projectile charge Wtihin said outer casing forward of saidexplosive charge, characterized by the fact that said projectile chargeis divided into a'plurality of distinct individual longitudinallyaligned charges which differ in mass and are enclosed within innercontainer means separable from said outer casing so as to be projectedwhole from said outer casing when said explosive charge is exploded,said inner container means being provided with a plurality of helicallyextending outwardly projecting ribs, the ribs on those portions of saidinner container means which encircle adjacent individual charges slopingin opposite directions to facilitate separation of said individualcharges from each other at a suitable distance from the mouth of theweapon from which said cartridge is tired.

9. A cartridge as claimed in claim 8 in which said individual projectilecharges are enclosed in separate containers assembled to be projectedtogether from said casing and made of a flexible, elastic materialprovided with perforations between said helical ribs which serve toweaken the containers in their perforated areas so as to facilitaterupture.

10. A cartridge as claimed in claim 9 in which said containers are alsoprovided with inwardly projecting radial ribs.

11. A cartridge as claimed in claim 10 in which the size of the shot ineach individual projectile charge is greater than that in any adjacentcharge nearer the breech end of the cartridge.

12. A cartridge as claimed in claim 8 in which the diifcrent individualprojectile charges are positioned in separate cups, open at the end awayfrom the breech end of the cartridge and provided at the other end witha dome shaped bottom which'is perforated to facilitate rupture, saidcups are provided with winged axial bars projecting inwardly from theirbottoms, and the weight of each individual projectile charge and thesize of the shot in each individual projectile charge is greater thanthat in any adjacent charge nearer the breech end of the cartridge.

13. A cartridge as claimed in claim 8 in which said individualprojectile charges are'positioned within a single elongated containerwhich is provided with transverse necks delimiting said individualprojectile charges, said container being weakened around said necks tofacilitate rupture thereat, the weight of shot in each individualprojectile charge being'greater than that in any adjacent charge nearerthe breech end of the cartridge.

14. A cartridge as claimedin claim '8 in which said individualprojectile charges are positioned within a single elongated containerprovided with transverse necks which delimit the individual projectilecharges and are perforated to facilitate rupture, saidcontainer beingprovided with radial vanes which project into-each individual projectilecharge and additionall 'perforated between said ribs, the-weight ofeach. individual projectile charge being greater than that in anyadjacent charge nearer the breech end of the cartridge, said necks andouter casing defining aplurality of annular recesses which are filledwith a silicone base grease.

15. A cartridge as claimed in claim 8 in which said breech closure is aplastic cap, said individual charges are enclosed in a single containerof plastic material held at its base in said cap the breech end of saidcap being covered'bya metallic jacket, said envelope being divided intothree sections-the length of each section being greater than that of anyadjacent section nearer said cap, said sections being separated-by necksprovided with weakened lines facilitating rupture, and each sectionbeing provided with helical weakened lines between said helical ribs.

16. A cartridge comprising an outer casing having a breech closure, anexplosive charge within the breech end of said casing, and a pluralityof individual cylindrical projectile charges-positioned end to end'inaxial alignment with said breech closure, each of said projectilecharges consisting of shot enclosed in an individual container separableas a unit from said casing so as to be projected whole therefrom uponexplosion of said explosive charge, said containers being provided withexternal helical ribs, those of said ribs on adjacent containers slopinginopposite directions, the weight of the shot in theindividualprojectile charges decreasing successivelyas they approachthe-breech end of the cartridge.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 151,327Weldon May 26, 1874 395,897 'Hartley Jan. 8, 1889 694,896 Scott Mar. 4,1902 1,066,525 Pedersen July 8, 1913 2,759,420 Schultz Aug. 21, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS 54,020 Germany 'Feb. 7, 1890 72,702 Germany Jan. 2, 1892108,507 Germany Feb. 13, 1900 270,647 Iager 2 Feb. 20, 1914 562,499France Sept. 6, 1923 1,183,228 France Jan. 26, 1959

1. A CARTRIDGE COMPRISING AN OUTER CASING HAVING A BREECH CLOSURE, ASOLE EXPLOSIVE CHARGE LOCATED WITHIN THE BREECH END OF SAID CASING, APROJECTILE CHARGE DIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF DISTINCT INDIVIDUALCHARGES POSITIONED END TO END IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BREECHCLOSURE AND EXPLOSIVE CHARGE, CONTAINER MEANS IN SAID CASING WITHINWHICH SAID PROJECTILE CHARGE IS ENCLOSED, SAID CONTAINER MEANS BEINGSEPARABLE AS A UNIT FROM SAID CASING SO AS TO BE PROJECTED WHOLETHEREFROM UPON EXPLOSION OF SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE, AND MEANS FORIMPARTING A DIFFERENT ROTATIONAL FORCE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECTILECHARGE WHILE SAID CONTAINER MEANS IS IN FLIGHT SO AS TO CAUSE ASEPARATION OF SAID INDIVIDUAL PROJECTILE CHARGES FROM EACH OTHER AT ASUITABLE DISTANCE FROM THE MOUTH OF THE WEAPON FROM WHICH SAID CARTRIDGEIS FIRED.